Horse Guards Parade

The Horse Guards Parade is a large parade ground off Whitehall in central London, located next to the Household Cavalry Museum. It is located at the former Palace of Whitehall's jousting courtyard, and it once served as the headquarters of the British Army; the Duke of Wellington was headquartered at the Horse Guards barracks during his service as commander-in-chief. For much of the late 20th century, the parade grounds were used as a car park for 500 senior civil servants granted the "Great Perk", but the 1991 Downing Street mortar attack raised security concerns and led to the parade grounds being restored for public use in 1993; the parade grounds were cleared in 1996, and parking was banned in March 1997.